Periodontal Disease Treatment

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, are serious bacterial infections of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. This includes gums, bone and the fibers that support your teeth and hold them in the jaw, known as periodontal ligaments. These bacterial infections can basically destroy your gums as well as the supporting bone that holds your teeth in your mouth.

The result of extreme, untreated periodontal disease is teeth that loosen and fall out, or need to be removed and replaced with dental bridges or implants. Additionally, you may require periodontal plastic surgery to cover and protect exposed tooth root surfaces, correct gum and jawbone indentations or reshape and repair the gum tissue. You may also require dental implants to replace destroyed tooth roots. Additionally, periodontal disease has been linked to a number of health problems that extend far beyond your mouth including diabetes and heart disease. According to the American Academy of Period-ontology:

“For a long time it was thought that bacteria was the factor that linked periodontal disease to other disease in the body; however, more recent research demonstrates that inflammation may be responsible for the association. Therefore, treating inflammation may not only help manage periodontal diseases but may also help with the management of other chronic inflammatory conditions.”

Causes of Periodontal Disease

The primary cause of periodontal diseases is bacterial plaque, that sticky, colorless coating that forms on your teeth. If it’s not cleaned off – through good habits including regular dental cleanings – that bacterial plaque can infect the gums, release toxins that redden and inflame the tissue, and gradually destroy the tissues supporting the teeth and underlying bone. When this happens, the gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets that fill with even more plaque and cause additional infection.

Other factors that can affect the health of your gums:

Aggressive Periodontitis Less common is aggressive periodontitis, which is characterized by rapid attachment loss and bone destruction. Localized aggressive periodontitis most often occurs near puberty and usually involves attachment loss around first molars and/or front teeth. Generalized aggressive periodontitis usually affects people under 30 years old and involves attachment loss on three or more permanent teeth as well as first molars and incisors.

Systemic Periodontitis Periodontitis stemming from systemic diseases often begins at a young age. It is associated with systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory problems and diabetes.

Necrotizing Periodontal Disease Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by the death of cells in the gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone (part of the upper or lower jaw that contains roots of teeth). It most commonly occurs in patients with systemic conditions such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression. These types of periodontal diseases cause ulcers in the gums between the teeth. Stress, smoking and poor oral hygiene sometimes can contribute to this problem.